Frame for motor-bicycles.



Patented Sept. t6. I SGZ.

FRAME FDR MOTOR BICYGLES.

(Application led. Apr. 1902.)

(ud Model.)

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W/TNESSES A A/EYS` i UNITED STATES ATENT ERICE.

GEORGE WAGNER AND BURNEY BYRON BIRD, or s'r. PAUaMiNNEsoTA.

FRAME FOR Moron-BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION brming part of Letters :Patent No. 709,380, datedSeptember 16, 1902.

Vp .Application filed April 5, 1902. Serial No. 101,520. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

)Be it known that we, GEORGEWAGNER and BURNEY BYRON BIRD, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of St. Paul, in the-county of Ramseyand State of Minnesota, have invented a new and Improved Motor-Frame andFork for the Same, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

Theinvention relates to motor-cycles, such as motor-bicycles, bicycles,and other polycycles; and the object of the invention is to provide anew and improved motor-frame and fork for the same arranged to carry themotor in a loop immediately back` ofthe front wheel and below thecenters of the wheels within a short distance of the ground, todistribute the weight of the motor equally between Jthe wheels, and toallow proper and easy steering ot' the machine, at the same timeprotecting the'rider from the oil and heat of the motor. l

The invention Vconsists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be more fully described hereinafter, and then pointedout in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawi u gs, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan Viewof the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same, and Fig. l is anenlarged transverse section of the improvement on the line 4 4 of Fig.1.

The motor-frame consists, essentially, ofa diamond-shaped body formed bythe upper brace A, the center brace B, the front lower brace C, the rearlower brace D, and the rear upper brace E, the said upper and lowerbraces A and C being rigidly secured in the usual manner tothesteering-head E. The lower end of the center brace B continuesin aloopG, extending from the center brace downwardly, forwardly, and-upwardly,ti nally terminating in a curved arm G', rigidly secured to thesteering-head F immediately below the connection of the lower frontbrace C with the said steering-head.

The loop G is approximately semicircular in shapeand is provided withlugs Il for se- -brace D.

The fork for the motor-frame is provided with double members K and K',the inner members K terminating in the4 front forkcrown L, in which issecured a steering-post N, mounted to turn in the usual manner in thesteering-head F. The outer fork members K lie close to the inner membersK and are rigidly secured to a lower crown-plate O,

brazed or otherwise fastened to the crownplate L, and the upper ends ofthe said members K are secured by bolts P to a top crownplate Q, screwedon the upper threaded nut of the steering-post N, a gain-nut R beingemployed to lock the said upper crown-plate Qin place after the same isscrewed on the' steering-post N.

The members K and K of the fork sides are preferably made tubular oralmondshaped in cross-section. The arm G of the loop G is preferably inthe form of a segment, the center of which lies in the axle-opening ofthe fork members, so that the arm G' conforms to the rim of the frontwheel.

"When it is desired. to place the fork in position on the steering-headF, it is necessary to remove the bolts P and detach the uppercrown-plate Q` s0 as to allow of pushing the steering-post N into thesteering-head F, after which the upper crown-plate Q is screwed on the`steering-post N, and then the bolts P are employed to attach the outermembers K to the upper crown-plate Q.

By the arrangementdescribed a very strong and durable motor-cycle frameis provided, which accommodates the motor in such a manner that themotors weight is equally distributed between the wheels, and the motoris below the centers of the wheels and near the ground to allow of easyand convenient turning of the front steering-wheel in the properdirection. The fork is greatly reinforced by the outside members K,extended IOO upon the sides of the steering-head and connected by twocrown-plates to the steeringpost.

The principal parts of the frame and fork are preferably made ofheavy-gage seamless tubing and are connected by outside forged joints toinsure great strength. The lower end ofthe steering-post is preferablyplugged up, as indicated in Fig. 4.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. A motor-cycle frame, having a diamondshapedbody, and an integralloop for supporting the motor, the loop extendingbelow the lower front brace and forming a downward continuation of thecenter brace, as set forth.

2. A motor-cycle frame, having a diamondshaped body, and an integralloop for supporting the motor, the loop extending below the lower braceand forming a downward continuation of the center brace, the said loopterminatingat its front end in an extensionarm rigidly connected withthe steering-head of the said body, as set forth.

3. A motor-cycle frame, having a diamondshape'd body, and an integralloop for sup-` porting the motor, the yloop extending below thecenterbrace and forming a downward continuation of the center brace, thesaid loop being hollow and provided with an inlet and an outlet for theexhaust to pass through the loop, as set forth. f

4. A motor-cycle frame, havinga diamondshaped body, and a loop forsupporting a motor, the loopA extending below the lower front brace andprovided with an extension secured to the steering-head, said extensionbeing curved to conform to the rim of the front wheel, as set forth.

5. A steering-fork for a motor-cycle frame, comprising a front-forkcrown, a steeringpost mounted in the crown, front-fork sides, each madeof two members of which the inner members are integral with the saidfrontfork crown, and crown -platesl carryi-ng the outer members of thefork, the lower crownplate being rigidly secured to the crown and theupper one detachably secured to the steering-post, as set forth.

6. A steering-fork for a motor-cycle frame, comprising a steering-post,front-fork sides, each made of two members, of which the inner membersare secured by a crown to the steering-post, and crown-plates, of whichone is rigidly secured to the outer members and 1o the said crown, whilethe other crownplate is removably attached to the outer members andtothe steering-post, as set forth.

7. A steering-fork for a motor-cycle frame, comprising a steering-post,front-fork sides, each made of two members, of which the inner membersare connected by a crown to the steering-post, crown-plates, of whichone is rigidly secured to the-outer members and to the said crown, andthe other upper crownplate screws on the steering-post, and bolts for.securing the upper crown-plate to the upper ends of the said outermembers, 'as set forth. 4

8..A motor-cycle frame and steering-fork therefor, comprising a diamond-shaped body, an integral loop for su pporting the motor, extendingbelow the lower brace and forming a downward continuation of the centerbrace,

the said loop having an extension-arm rigidly s connected withvthesteering-head of the said body, a steering-post mounted to turn in thesaid steering head, front fork sides, each made of two members, of whichthe inner members are connected by a crown with the said steering-post,and crown-plates, of which one is rigidly secured to the outer membersand to the said crown, and the other crownplate is detachably secured tothe upper ends of the outer members and the said steeringpost, as setforth. 4

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE WAGNER. BURNEY BYRON BIRD. Witnesses:

KARL HAMMERBACHER, W. V. BoLLoM.

